[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 9, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E140-E141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE LIFE, ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF MAURICE WHITE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 9, 2016

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Memphis 
singer, drummer, songwriter, producer and founder of the world-renowned 
band Earth, Wind & Fire, Maurice White. Maurice White was born in 
Memphis, Tennessee on December 19, 1941, and attended Booker T. 
Washington High School where he was in the drum corps. After 
graduating, he and his family moved to Chicago, Illinois and Maurice 
White enrolled at the Chicago Conservatory of Music. Having developed a 
love for drums while singing in his church choir in Memphis and 
watching marching bands, Maurice found work as a drummer in nightclubs 
and in 1963, he became a session drummer for Chess Records.
   While at Chess Records, Maurice recorded with music legends Etta 
James, Fontella Bass, Muddy Waters, The Impressions, Betty Everett and 
many more. In 1966, he joined the Ramsey Lewis Trio during a time when 
the group was one of only a few jazz groups to rise to the upper levels 
of the pop charts. Maurice White left the group to form the Salty 
Peppers in 1969 alongside his two friends, Wade Flemons and Don 
Whitehead. After little success, he moved to Los Angeles, California, 
recruited new band members including his brother Verdine White and, 
drawing inspiration from the astrological chart, changed the group's 
name to Earth, Wind & Fire.
   Earth, Wind & Fire signed with Warner Bros. in 1971 but did not gain 
renowned fame until Maurice, again, brought on new band members, with 
the exception of Verdine, and signed the band with Columbia. It was 
then that Earth, Wind & Fire infused its sound with jazz, funk, soul 
and pop, and recorded the album Head to the Sky in 1973, which sold 
over 500,000 copies and included hit songs Evil and Keep Your Head to 
the Sky. In 1974, Earth, Wind & Fire released the album Open Our Eyes 
and reached the pop Top 40 for the first time with the song Mighty 
Mighty. Their next album released just a year later, That's the Way of 
the World, included the group's first and only No. 1 pop hit, Shining 
Star. Earth, Wind & Fire also recorded hit songs Reasons (1975), That's 
the Way of the World (1975), Fantasy (1977), September (1978), Boogie 
Wonderland (1979), and Let's Groove (1981), including many more hits 
and popular songs. Maurice White helped produce seven double platinum 
albums, two platinum albums, two gold albums and two gold singles.
   In addition to writing or co-writing many of the songs for Earth, 
Wind & Fire, Maurice White produced music for the Emotions, Ramsey 
Lewis and Deniece Williams, and in

[[Page E141]]

1985, he released a solo, eponymous album and earned a hit with his 
cover of Ben E. King's Stand by Me.
   In all, Earth, Wind & Fire had 16 Top 40 singles and sold an 
estimated 90 million albums worldwide. The group has won six Grammy 
Awards from seventeen nominations, four American Music Awards from 
twelve nominations, the BET Lifetime Achievement Award, the NAACP Hall 
of Fame Award, Soul Train's Legend Award, and has been inducted into 
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as well 
as earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2010, Maurice White 
was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame along with band members 
Verdine White, Philip Bailey, Al McKay and Larry Dunn. Earth, Wind & 
Fire has earned a list of other awards and recognitions and will 
receive the 2016 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
   Maurice White's music was written and produced to inspire and bring 
all people together. Maurice once said, ``Being joyful and positive was 
the whole objective of our group. Our goal was to reach all the people 
and to keep a universal atmosphere--to create positive energy. All of 
our songs had that positive energy. To create uplifting music was the 
objective.'' Maurice's goal was easily recognized by all who heard and 
loved his work. President Barack Obama stated, ``Only Maurice could 
make such sophisticated songs so catchy. Only he could inspire 
generations of such diverse artists. And only he could get everyone--
old and young, black and white--to let the groove move them on the 
dance floor.''
   Maurice's universal sound was remembered by Flea, bassist for Red 
Hot Chili Peppers, who said, ``In my junior high school, the white kids 
loved Zeppelin, the black kids loved p funk [Parliament Funkadelic], 
the freaky kids loved Bowie, but everyone loved Earth, Wind & Fire. 
They were just undeniable. Old people loved 'em, kids loved 'em, every 
race and economic class loved 'em. They just crossed every line with 
the power of incredible music and amazing performances.'' Tributes from 
artists from all genres include mentions of Maurice as a genius, a 
king, a masterful artist, a leader and a teacher.
   Maurice White passed away on February 3, 2016 in Los Angeles at 74 
years of age. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1992. The 
music community has lost one of the greatest musical minds of our time. 
Maurice White's influence cannot be denied and his contributions are 
lasting. Maurice White was a true ``shining star'' and his legacy will 
shine on for generations to come.

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